Bibles – Christianbook.com Blog

10 Valentine Gift Ideas They’ll Love

Christianbook.com — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 21:54:50 +0000

Forget a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates, here are some heartfelt gifts that they’ll surely love this Valentine’s Day. You’ll find mugs that help convey how much they mean to you. Faith-filled jewelry that will show they’re the sparkle in your eye. Photo frames to help them remember all those good times. Records with songs of love that explain how you feel… and much more!

These are our top gift selections for this Valentine’s Day…

For more Valentine’s Day inspiration, visit our Valentine Gift Store!

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Bible Journaling Starter Kit

Christianbook.com — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 19:10:43 +0000

We get asked a lot of questions by customers about how to get started with Bible journaling – most especially, what items are needed for a beginner. So, to help those looking to begin the creative journey that is Bible journaling, we thought we’d jot down some of our suggested tools to get you started.

Hopefully you find it helpful!

Don’t forget, you can download our FREE Bible Journaling Guide with resources such as – lettering pages, tracing samples, drawing tutorials, practice pages & more.

Types of Journaling Bibles

This is perhaps the part most people get a little overwhelmed with. There are many different types of journaling Bibles, and at the end of the day, it really comes down to your personal preference. Here are some of the common types of journaling Bibles you might come across.

Coloring & Creative

This type of Bible features illustrations in the margins ready for you to color. There are also plenty of blank margins for you to jot down your own reflections and notes. This is the perfect Bible for anyone who is brand new to journaling – or doesn’t consider themselves particularly artistic… yet!

Example of a creative & coloring journaling Bible (My Creative Bible)

Single Column

Perhaps the most common choice when choosing a journaling Bible. This version features a single column of text on each page with a nice wide margin for your notes and creative journaling.

Example of a single column journaling Bible

2-Column

Much the same as the single column, except this Bible has two columns of text side-by-side on each page. Despite the extra column of text, this version still features perfectly wide margins for journaling.

Example of a double column journaling Bible

Interleaved

Featuring a full blank page after every page with text, the interleaved version is great for those looking for a lot more space to journal and are comfortable with drawing and lettering on pages without lines.

For more beginner resources download our FREE Bible Journaling Guide!

Types of Pens

We often hear of people looking for tools that won’t bleed through their Bible pages, so here’s a quick overview of some of the most common tools.

Safe Products

Generally speaking, the safest products to use when journaling are colored pencils, crayons and Bible highlighters (not regular highlighters!). These are very unlikely to bleed through the page and onto other pages.

Not-so-safe products

Now, we think most journaling Bible enthusiasts have come to terms with the inevitable bleeding through the page from time to time. But in case it is something that you do want to avoid, here are a list of products** you might want to steer clear of:

Felt-tip pens
Sharpies
Highlighters
Ink Stamps
Ink-based pens and markers
Gel pens
Micron Pens
Ball Point Pens
Acrylics

**please note this list is intended as a guide only – you should always test supplies in the back of your Bible first.

There are also some items that will wrinkle pages, these are usually water based items such as watercolors; watercolor crayons and; acrylics. But don’t worry too much about this as the weight of the Bible will help flatten this out in time!

Experiencing bleed through? Fear not! A simple solution is to lightly paint over the margin with white paint. This will give you a good base to start journaling on the next page. Or to prevent the bleed spreading further through your Bible, just place a piece of white paper or card underneath the page you are working on. Voila!

Looking for more resources to help you get started with Bible Journaling? Click here!

Tips & Tricks

Not ready to draw in your Bible? Grab a notepad to work in – until your confidence builds!

Don’t consider yourself an artist? Why not try tracing! Bible pages are thin enough that you can simply rtrace illustrations onto your page.

Already filled a margin but have more to add for the verse? Use sticky notes – or washi tape! Simply grab a piece of cardstock and use washi tape to stick it in between the pages. You can also add photos and other media this way too.

Made a mistake? Don’t stress! Just carry on and start again… it is all about the process and you’re sure to learn new skills as you go.

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A Guide to Choosing a Bible

Christianbook.com — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 20:20:23 +0000

Choosing a Bible can be a daunting task, and yet, it’s one of the most important purchases we’ll ever make. To help you with your selection, we’ve assembled some crucial information to consider in your decision.

We hope it helps!

Bible Translations

English Bibles are available in just about every reading level and style. You may end up with more than one translation (helpful for comparison purposes), but it is most important you begin with a translation you can read and understand.

At one end of the spectrum, we have the word-for-word translations. This approach seeks to represent the original Greek and Hebrew as far as possible when it comes to original word order, grammar, and syntax. The word-for-word translations include the KJV, NKJV, ESV, and NASB.

On the other end of the spectrum we find the thought-for-thought translation. This approach is more concerned with putting meaning of the passage in colloquial language familiar to the reader. The thought-for-thought translations include The Living Bible, and The Message. Readers may find this translation more readable, especially good for new readers.

Somewhere between these two approaches we have the dynamic equivalent, or mediating translation. These translations seek to strike a balance between the two approaches outlined above. Some examples in this category are the NIV, HCSB, and the NAB.

To find a translation that works for you, we suggest you compare how each of the Bible translations interpret your favorite verses – see which speaks to you best.

For more help choosing a Bible that suits you, download our FREE Bible Guide

About Bible Types

Bibles come in a variety of sizes and formats. Many are targeted for specific people and special occasions and some even have additional material for devotion and study. Here is a quick list of some of the most common types of Bibles.

Study Bibles – these contain the biblical text along with additional material to help the reader understand the Bible better.

Reference Bibles – contains cross-references that relate verses with similar topics or words.

Parallel & Interlinear – a parallel Bible contains two or more translations, usually side-by-side, while an Interlinear Bible contains the original biblical language along with an English translation.

Wide Margin Bibles – also called Note-Takers Bibles. These pages have wider margins on each page for personal note taking.

Coloring Book Bibles – these new devotional Bibles are designed for you to take notes and color illustrations during your devotional time.

Compact & Pocket Bibles – these can be smaller take-along Bibles that fit in a purse, backpack, or briefcase.

Large & Giant Print Bibles – Bibles that feature larger than normal text, making it easier to read. They’re available for all types of Bibles, such as Study, Reference, Devotional & more.

To view more Bible types, download our FREE Bible Guide here!

A Word About Font Sizes

It is important to note that large and giant print Bibles will have a font size relative to the dimensions of the Bible itself. The smaller the size of the actual Bible, the smaller the font size will be. That’s why you may find some compact Bibles listed as large print when they have text size 9-point – it’s all relative to the individual Bible’s dimensions!

Choosing a Binding

Bible bindings can be made from many different materials with many different price points. Here is a quick guide to some common bindings you’ll find at Christianbook.com

Genuine Leather – high quality covers made from real leather from animal hides.

Bonded Leather – real leather pieces bonded together with adhesives and dyed and cut to look like leather. This binding is less expensive (but also less durable) than genuine leather.

Imitation Leather – constructed from a variety of synthetic materials. Similar to bonded leather, but this binding has more durability and can feel closer to genuine leather.

Hardcover – a hard, stiff cover, such as found on textbooks or other hardcover books. Less expensive than leather with better protection for the pages than a softcover.

Softcover – also called paperback. This binding is made from heavier paper glued together at the spine. This is the most inexpensive binding.

Cloth – a hardcover binding that has cloth or fabric covering

Synthetic – manmade materials such as metal or waterproof materials.

Our FREE Bible Guide includes a lot more information on choosing a Bible including

an overview of general Bible terms
a guide to the books of the Bible
how to choose a Bible cover
a History of the translations
choosing a Study Bible
and so much more!

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Bibles for Kids of Every Age

Christianbook.com — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 13:36:41 +0000

As the number of Bibles for kids continues to grow, it can seem like a daunting mission trying to find the perfect one for your child. There are rhyming Bibles, storybook Bibles, illustrated Bibles, NIV Bibles, KJV Bibles and so many other versions to consider. So, we’ve trawled our Children’s Bible store to bring you our top recommendations for children of all ages – from toddlers to teens!

While we can’t list all of our favorites here, these are some of the Bibles we think will help your child on his or her journey with God. For more options, click here to shop our full Children’s Bible range by age.

BIBLES FOR KIDS AGED 0-2

Candle Bible for Kids, Toddler Edition

A beautifully designed and illustrated Bible that featuring 36 beloved Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments simply retold for young children. While it’s not a board book, the Bible features a padded cover as well as study pages to prevent ripping!

Baby’s First Bible

Introduce your toddlers to important characters like Adam and Eve, David and Goliath, Mary and Joseph, and of course Jesus with this Bible storybook. Created by bestselling author Melody Carlson, this Bible is full of lullaby rhymes and precious illustrations that children will love!

BIBLES FOR KIDS AGED 3-5

My First Hands-On Bible

Here is a Bible that doesn’t just retell the Bible stories – it also includes Scripture from the easy-to-understand Holy Bible, New Living Translation. In addition to the 85 key stories from the Bible, this version features activities, fun illustrations, and prayers.

The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible

A first reader your children will truly treasure! This colorful Bible features nearly 300 beautiful two-page illustrations to capture even the youngest child’s imagination and heart. Written in a straightforward and engaging language, children are sure to enjoy their time spent reading this collection of stories from the Old and New Testament.

BIBLES FOR KIDS AGED 6-8

NIrV Kids Devotional Bible

Complete with a year’s worth of devotions, this Bible will help children to develop a habit they’ll want to keep up for years to come. The New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) is easy for young readers to read and understand – as well as being a great stepping stone to the NIV! Other features of this Bible include fun weekend activities, illustrations, and a dictionary.

CSB Kids Bible

This Christian Standard Bible is loaded with full-color pages and also features large, easy to read type – making it the perfect Bible for young readers. Study aids throughout will help to expand your child’s Bible knowledge and connect to the people, places, and events they are learning about. We think you’ll find the CSB’s blend of accuracy and readability make it a trustworthy resource for children to study and memorize.

BIBLES FOR KIDS AGED 9-12

KJV Holy Bible for Kids

Featuring 24 striking illustrations throughout, this is a Bible that will encourage kids to dig in and grow their faith! Containing the complete Old and New Testament of the King James Version, it features big, easy reading text and the words of Jesus in red letter. Children will learn the stories of how God created the universe, rescued His people from slavery, sent His Son to forgive our sins, and more.

NIV Adventure Bible

The NIV Adventure Bible is one of our bestselling children’s Bibles… and with good reason! Featuring full-color throughout to ensure the stories are even more engaging for young readers. Other features include ‘Did You Know?’ facts throughout, hands-on activities, a dictionary for looking up tricky words, a color map to help locate places in the Bible and so much more!

BIBLES FOR KIDS AGED 13+

NIV Bible for Teen Girls

Designed for girls aged 13 to 18, this Bible is packed with challenging insights, smart advice and discussion about the realities of life – perfect for helping teen girls grow in faith. It also features character profiles of women in the Bible as well as readings for teen girls by popular authors such as Bethany Hamilton, Christine Caine and more.

NIV Bible for Teen Guys

Again, this Bible is perfect for ages 13 to 18. It is designed to help discover God’s will for all areas of life, including relationships with family, friends, sports, girls and so much more. This Bible features the complete text of the NIV, as well as character profiles of men in the Bible, plus readings by popular Christian authors like Mark Batterson, Kyle Idleman and more.

Can’t find what you are looking for? Click here to take a look inside our Children’s Bible store!

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